GARDEN | CREATE A COASTAL HAVEN, CAYMAN ISLANDS

Words by Hannah Reid, www.bushgirlmedicine.com

It’s no wonder living on the coast is so desirable, when you can open your door and smell the salt breeze, see fresh turtle tracks in the sand on your morning walk, and hear the cackle of parrots in the sea grape trees.

Although homes and condos increasingly dominate the coastal landscape in the Cayman Islands, our beaches, mangrove wetlands, and iron shore habitats are also home to a variety of plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else in the world.

If you live on the coast, you have the ability to create a safe haven for local plant and animal life, and in so doing help to preserve this critical ecosystem. The following are five ways to make your home nature-friendly

TURTLE PROOF YOUR TERRAIN

The cultural connection between the Cayman Islands and sea turtles runs deep. Today, however, residents are focused on protecting turtles for future generations and in 2023, there were a record-breaking 1,008 nests in the Cayman Islands. While coastal development poses challenges to our local sea turtles, you can help protect these culturally significant species by installing turtle-friendly lighting, keeping your shoreline clutter-free, keeping a safe distance from turtles and hatchlings, and reporting nests, poaching or sea turtles in danger to the Turtle Hotline: 345.938.6378. Learn more about our nesting sea turtles at www.doe.ky.

PLANT FOR POLLINATORS

The native plants that populate our beaches are a stabilising influence on active coastlines, helping to reduce erosion and retain nutrients while providing food and shelter for local wildlife. Many native and endemic coastal plants are also nectar plants for pollinators. For example, the silvery sea lavender plant (Tournefortia gnaphalodes) is a favourite of local butterflies. Retaining or replanting native or endemic coastal species can help attract beautiful pollinators to your seaside property while providing important ecosystem services. www.bushgirlmedicine.com

STOP BIRD STRIKES

The Cayman Islands’ vibrant birding community is a testament to the remarkable diversity of bird life found here, from migratory visitors in the winter months to permanent breeding populations. Unfortunately, one of the main reasons for human-caused bird deaths is something every coastal property has – windows. The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to minimise the chance of bird strikes. By adding vertical or grid markings using decals or ropes on the outside of windows, you can protect the bird life without distracting from your coastal view. The Cornell Lab is an excellent source of information about the emerging methods developed to reduce bird collisions, www.allaboutbirds.org.

For more local gardening tips, visit Bush Girl Medicine www.bushgirlmedicine.com

MAINTAIN YOUR MANGROVES

By keeping existing mangroves as coastal buffers, you not only protect your property from severe weather events and rising seas, but you also provide essential habitat to a range of native species. Because replanting mangroves can be a lengthy and tricky process, it is much easier to retain existing red (Rhizophora mangle), black (Avicennia germinans) and white (Laguncularia racemosa) mangroves than to restore wetland habitats once lost. Each of these species is specially adapted for the challenges of coastal living and is protected under the National Conservation Act (2013). You can still trim your mangroves to enhance your view by following the Mangrove Trimming Guidelines on the National Conservation Council’s website, www.conservation.ky.

LEARN YOUR LANDSCAPE

Author and environmentalist Gary Snyder once wrote: “There is strength, freedom, sustainability and pride in being a practised dweller in your own surroundings, knowing what you know.” By paying attention to our natural environment, we can become better advocates for the plants and animals we share these islands with. When we know the patterns and rhythms of the world around us, we are better equipped to notice and respond to changes to our environment. The practice of paying attention can be as simple as walking the beach each morning during turtle nesting season to help keep a watch for new nests or watching the birds come in to roost for the evening and logging your observations on a digital birding site.

For more local gardening tips, visit Bush Girl Medicine www.bushgirlmedicine.com